Investment and IP Protection Drive Global Rankings

China's strong showing in global innovation cluster rankings is attributed to sustained investment in research and development, coupled with improvements in intellectual property protection. This was the message delivered by Du Yu, a spokesperson for the China Intellectual Property Administration, during a recent press conference.

Du's comments followed the announcement that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, had secured the top position in the 2025 Global Innovation Index. This marked the first time the cluster had surpassed the Tokyo-Yokohama cluster of Japan.

China also led the list with the highest number of clusters, boasting 24, followed by the United States and Germany. Notably, three Chinese innovation clusters were ranked within the top 10.

Du further revealed that China's total expenditure on research and development in 2024 surpassed 3.6 trillion yuan, representing an 8.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. He highlighted the country's commitment to strengthening intellectual property rights through legal frameworks, aiming to provide robust support for innovators.

As of June, approximately 524,000 companies in China held valid invention patents, with the total number of valid invention patents reaching 3.73 million. Du emphasized the crucial role of innovation clusters in fostering the integration of innovation and industry, driving the development of new productive forces, and contributing to high-quality regional economic and social growth. He described these clusters as a vital component of the national innovation ecosystem.

Focusing on the Greater Bay Area, where the top-ranked cluster is located, Du noted that the three regions within the area were granted 113,000 invention patents in 2024, representing 12.1 percent of the national total. This dynamic innovation ecosystem has also attracted numerous high-tech companies and skilled professionals, providing a continuous source of momentum for regional innovation and development.